How to Choose the Right Colour for Every Room in Your Home
Choosing paint colours can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. The key to creating a space that looks beautiful and feels just right is to start with one simple question: How do you want the space to feel?
This emotional starting point is more telling than you think. Whether you're craving calm, creativity, energy, or warmth, colour plays a powerful role in shaping the atmosphere of a room. For example:
Soft neutrals and cool tones create a calming, restful vibe—ideal for bedrooms or quiet reading nooks.
Warm tones like terracotta or buttery beige evoke comfort and coziness—perfect for living rooms or dining areas.
Bold hues like navy, forest green, or charcoal can add drama, focus, or intimacy—great for home offices or powder rooms.
Source: SheerLuxe
Lighting Changes Everything
Once you've defined how you want the space to feel, the next step is understanding how lighting will affect your colour choice. Natural light shifts throughout the day, while artificial lighting (especially the difference between white/blue vs. warm/yellow bulbs) can dramatically change how a paint colour reads.
A crisp white might feel clean and airy in daylight, but turn stark and cold under cool-toned artificial light. Meanwhile, a soft grey might pick up purple or blue undertones you didn’t expect, depending on the time of day.
Source: DIYBUNKER
The Power of Undertones and Hues
Undertones are subtle, but they make or break a room. Beige with a pink undertone will feel completely different than a beige with a golden undertone. The same goes for greys, whites, or even bold hues—each colour family has variations that can steer the mood of the room in a different direction.
Don’t skip this part: always test 3-4 sample colours that you’re drawn to, and paint small patches on the wall. Live with them for a few days and observe how they shift with the light from morning to evening. What feels bright and clean at noon might feel shadowy and cool by dinnertime.
Swatch Cards vs. Reality
Swatch cards are a great starting point, but the way a colour appears on a 2-inch sample is completely different from how it will feel when it's taking up an entire wall. Once painted on the wall, you'll get a much better sense of scale, depth, and undertone.
Source: Better Home & Garden
Bonus Tips for Choosing the Right Colour:
Use large-format peel-and-stick samples if available—they’re more accurate and easier to move around.
Hold your colour samples next to key elements like flooring, cabinetry, and countertops.
Don’t forget the ceiling and trim—choosing complementary tones here can elevate your entire scheme.
When in doubt, go a shade lighter than you think you need. Colour intensifies once it covers a full room.
Choosing the right paint colour is about more than just picking what looks good in the store. It’s about understanding how colour interacts with light, mood, and materials. By taking the time to sample and observe, you'll end up with a home that not only looks stunning, but feels just right.
